Decoding the vascular genetic risk for heart disease

Casey Romanoski, PhD

"Decoding the vascular genetic risk for heart disease"

Casey Romanoski received her undergraduate degree in Liberal Arts from the University of Arizona in 2004. She attended graduate school at UCLA where she trained in the laboratory of Dr. Jake Lusis to receive a PhD in Human Genetics in 2010. Her dissertation utilized systems genetics to elucidate mechanisms governing why endothelial cells isolated from different people exhibit differential responses to pro-inflammatory oxidized phospholipids. Next, she did post-doctoral training at UCSD in Christopher Glass’ laboratory where she focused on mechanisms whereby genetic variation among mouse strains directs differential gene regulation. Dr. Romanoski received fellowships from the NIH and American Heart Association to fund 9 out of the 10 years of her training. In 2014, Casey was awarded the NIH Pathway to Independence Award for promise as an academic researcher.  She moved to The University of Arizona as faculty in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine in 2016.

The goal of Dr. Romanoski’s research program is to identify functional genetic variants, genes, mechanisms, and pathways that lead to endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction associated with inflammatory vascular diseases. Using a combination of experimental and analytical tools, the laboratory identifies relationships between genetic variants, chromatin state, and gene expression to elucidate mechanisms that govern regulatory function on the genome-wide scale.